IPCC shows 1.5˚C warming limit is feasible, inaction will have major consequences

Climate Analytics is a global research organisation whose scientists have extensively contributed to the literature on which the IPCC has based its SR1.5 assessment (1).

“We welcome the conclusions of this historic report, one that should give the international community not just a wake-up call, but also hope that we can avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change,” said Bill Hare, Climate Analytics CEO. “This report shows the longer we leave it to act the more difficult, the more expensive and the more dangerous it will be.”

The report is very clear in its confirmation that the wide-ranging impacts of climate change will be much worse at 2˚C of warming than at 1.5˚C.

“The report shows clearly the far-reaching and severe impacts of climate change beyond 1.5˚C – from the loss of Arctic sea ice to the demise of tropical coral reefs, and rapidly escalating risk of climate extremes. Exceeding 1.5°C means very grave risks for people and vulnerable systems around the globe”, said Dr Carl Friedrich-Schleussner, Head of Science and Impacts.

“The IPCC confirms that it is feasible to hold warming to 1.5˚C, or very close to it, throughout the 21st Century, but that there is no time for complacency. It also confirms that the Paris Agreement commitments fall far short of what is needed,” said Dr Michiel Schaeffer, Director of Science.

According to the report, renewable energy must make up half of the global energy mix by 2050, and coal needs to be out of the power sector altogether by then. Carbon dioxide emissions must be halved in the next ten years – by 2030, and reach zero by 2050.

“The advantages of early action are made stark in this report – especially regarding the sustainable development benefits, around poverty alleviation, health and access to clean energy,” said Hare.

“It is clear that Governments must be preparing now to commit to much stronger 2030 targets under the Paris Agreement that need to be submitted by all government no later than 2020, and they have to ditch coal.”

The report is very timely for the upcoming climate negotiations (COP24) in Katowice, Poland in December this year: “The IPCC report is very clear that Government commitments are far from sufficient and will not achieve the Paris Agreement’s warming limit – there needs to be a redoubled effort to increase the level of ambition for 2030. This report provides the scientific grounding to kick this off in Katowice in support of the push for more ambitious NDCs to be submitted by 2020,” says Rueanna Haynes, SIDS Climate Advisor.

(1) Climate Analytics provides scientific and technical advice on climate change to Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.

Contacts

Bill Hare, CEO (in South Korea) +61 468 372 179 bill.hare@climateanalytics.org
Carl Schleusser, Head of Science and impact (in Berlin Monday): +49 177 5141 550 carl.schleussner@climateanalytics.org
Michiel Schaeffer, Science Director: +31 6 343 06393 michiel.schaeffer@climateanalytics.org
Rueanna Haynes, SIDS Climate Advisor: rueanna.haynes@climateanalytics.org
Claire Fyson, Science Advisor: claire.fyson@climateanalytics.org